Raclin Murphy Museum of Art

The Raclin Murphy Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame is housed in a newly opened 70,000-square-foot building as of December 2023. This museum replaced the Snite Museum of Art, which closed at the end of 2023. The collection comprises over 30,000 artworks spanning various cultures, eras, and media, including fine art, decorative arts, prints, drawings, textiles, photographs, and artifacts from Mesoamerican, Latin American, Mexican, Chicano, and African cultures.

The museum's history dates back to 1875 with the establishment of the Bishops Gallery and Museum of Indian Antiquities. Over time, donations and acquisitions enriched these collections. Key milestones include Charles Wightman's donation in 1924 of 108 religious paintings and Ignatius O'Shaughnessy's funding for the construction of O'Shaughnessy Hall in 1953.

The new museum building was made possible by a 2018 donation from Ernestine Raclin and her family. Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects, it features commissioned works by renowned artists such as Jaume Plensa, Jenny Holzer, and Maya Lin. The museum includes 23 galleries, a multi-level atrium, and spaces like Ivan's Café and the Our Lady, Queen of Families chapel. Located in the Charles B. Hayes Family Sculpture Park, it showcases outdoor sculptures.

The collection also features donated subsets, including the Jack Feddersen Collection of Rembrandt Etchings and the John D. Reilly Collection of Old Master Drawings. The museum highlights approximately 1,000 works from its permanent collection at any time.